Jerky Dog Treats from China: What You Need to Know

For a number of years Americans have been submitting complaints to the government over potentially dangerous jerky dog treats originating from China. Thousands of illnesses and deaths of U.S. dogs have been reported. Yet it appears that we are not any closer to solving this problem .

Amid growing concerns that these products are causing serious illness amongst dogs in the U.S. and Australia, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently sent inspectors to manufacturing sites in China to investigate. However these inspectors were not allowed to conduct their food tests using their own protocol. According to a recent article from NBC News, “Chinese officials stipulated that FDA officials could collect samples only if they agreed to specific conditions, including a requirement that the samples be tested in Chinese-run laboratories.”

Even with numerous complaints, reported illnesses, dog deaths, FDA statements and investigations, these jerky dog treats still line the shelves at your local grocery store. The FDA states that,

“There is nothing preventing a company from conducting a voluntary recall. It is important to understand that unless a contaminant is detected and we have evidence that a product is adulterated, we are limited in what regulatory actions we can take. The regulations don’t allow for products to be removed based on complaints alone. […] Currently, FDA continues to urge pet owners to use caution with regard to jerky pet treat products.”

This issue with jerky treats highlights the need to fight our own ignorance. Pet owners must learn more about where their pet food comes from. It is the responsibility of pet owners to learn how to read labels and understand the ingredients in pet food. When you know what an ingredient really is and have a better understanding of where it came from, you will be better able to avoid foods that could potentially harm your pet.

Learn to read labels. Ask the right questions. Understand where you pet’s food comes from.